APGA appeal panel upholds disqualification of Soludo, others Tony Ojielo-led appeal panel of the All Progressive Grand Alliance on Saturday in Abuja dismissed the appeal filed by a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Charles Soludo, and five others challenging their disqualification from the Anambra State governorship election for lack of merit. Six persons who were disqualified by the party’s Governorship Screening Committee had appeared before the panel to contest their disqualification by the committee. The appeal panel which has Tony Ojielo as chairman, Bala Bako (Secretary), Dr. Mic Adams, Ogometu Ukpenetus and Hadiza Gogori as members, had earlier promised to make its decision known within 24 hours. But a source in APGA told SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday that “all the appeals were dismissed for lacking in merit.” The screening panel of APGA had on Friday disqualified six of the party’s aspirants, who showed interest in the November 16 governorship election in the state. A statement by the chairman of the governorship screening panel of APGA, Tayo Sowunmi; Secretary, Mr. Ifeanyi Mbaeri and a member, Onwuka Ukwa, had stated at the conclusion of the panel’s sitting that some of aspirants failed to scale through the test. The six aspirants that failed the screening were Mr. Emmanuel Nweke; Ogbuefi Nnaechetta; Mr. Chinedu Idigo; Dr. Chike Obidigbo; Mr. Oseloka Obaze and Soludo. However the panel said seven aspirants were successful. The successful aspirants are, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwogbo, Mr. Paul Odenigbo, Mr. Uche Ekwunife, Mr. Willie Obiano, Mr. John Nwosu, Mr. John Okechukwu Emeka and Nwachi Patrick Obianwu. It was learnt that some of the reasons given for not clearing the aspirants ranged from non-presentation of voters card, lack of evidence of financial strength to execute the campaign, incomplete certificate and their inability to submit tax clearance.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 13:24:28 +0000